The Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group works to help people whose rights have been violated and investigates cases involving such abuse, as well as assessing the overall human rights situation in Ukraine. The Group also seeks to develop awareness of human rights issues through public events and its various publications

The Venice Commission, whose Secretary Thomas Markert concluded a brief visit to Ukraine on Tuesday, hopes that the Constitutional Court will consider the application by the Central Election Commission regarding the term of office of this session of the Verkhovna Rada. Mr Markett was asked whether the Venice Commission would give any recommendations regarding the date for the next regular parliamentary elections in Ukraine. He said that he thought that the Constitutional Court should give its judgement. “I very much hope that the Constitutional Court will issue its judgment before the Venice Commission Session begins, and then the need will disappear for us to express any opinion regarding this.”